Mechanism for raising and lowering backrest on beds



MECHANISM FOR RAISING AND LOWERING BACKREST ON BEDS Filed July 22, 1952 INVENTOR.

United States, Patent '0 MECHANISM FOR RAISING AND LOWERIN BACKREST ON BEDS Thomas Hilliard Atkins, San Jose, Calif. Application July 22, 1952, Serial No. 300,199

1 Claim. (Cl. -75) This invention relates to an adjustable back rest for a bed and more particularly to a mechanism for maintaining the back rest of a bed structure in various positions of adjustment.

In the past, numerous arrangements have been devised for raising and/or lowering the spring structure of a bed and for maintaining the latter in desired positions of adjustment. The present invention contemplates a novel structure for accomplishing the foregoing result in a simple yet facile manner.

It is one object of this invention to provide a selfaligning support for a strut pivotally secured to the spring structure of a bed.

Another object is to provide a one way latch for the strut member for securing the same at various points of elevation relative to the self aligning support.

Yet another object is to provide a manual control for the one way latch accessible to the occupant of the bed to facilitate his adjusting of the strut member relative to the bed frame.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bed embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section through Fig. 1, taken substantially along line 2-2 thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view looking upward relative to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of Fig. 2 taken substantially along line 4-4 thereof.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section of Fig. 4 taken along line 5-5 thereof.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section similar to that of Fig. 4 but showing a modified form of construction.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the present invention is well adapted for use with a conventional bedstead 10 whether it be of wood or metal. With this conventional bedstead I prefer to use a box spring 11 and a mattress 12 each of which is constructed with a hinge 13 or 14, respectively, to facilitate raising and/ or lowering respective portions 15 and 16 thereof relative to the main spring and mat portions.

For purposes of illustration, I have shown the hinges 13 and 14 disposed forwardly of the headstead 17 of the bed sufiiciently to break the main portions of the spring 11 and mattress 12 at approximately the waist line of an individual. Thus, the portion 16 of the mattress is a back rest supported on the spring portion 15.

In addition to the foregoing, it will be noted in Fig. 1 that the swingable portions 15-16 can be divided as at 18 in the case of double beds so that each occupant of such double bed can raise or lower his particular back rest portion 16 independently of whether the other back rest is moved or not.

In conjunction with the mattress and box spring constructed as above explained, the conventional bedstead or frame 10 is supplemented by a transverse rail 20 having its ends suitably secured to the side rails 21-21 of the frame and at the inner sides thereof. This transverse rail 20, as shown in Fig. 2, is disposed directly beneath the hinge 13 of the spring structure 11 and is of a width suitable to support the rear edge of the main portion of the spring and yet leave a ledge 22 adapted to receive the fore edge of the movable portion 15 of the spring when the latter is in lowered or horizontal position.

"ice

In the case of a double bed having divided back rests as hereinbefore explained, an intermediate rail 23 Figs. 2 and 6 is provided directly beneath the dividing line 18 between the two swingable back rests 16-16 and their supporting portions 15-15 of the spring structure 11. This intermediate rail has its fore edge suitably secured to the transverse 'rail 20 and its rear edge connected to the head board or stead 17. Moreover, the intermediate rail 23 is of a width suitable to support both of the swingable portions 15-15 adjacent their divided edges when either or both of the back rests are in lowered position.

The mechanism for raising and/or lowering the back rest described above is generally designated by numeral 25 in the drawing. This mechanism 25 comprises a bar or tubular member 26 of a length suitable to extend transversely of the bed frame 10, either between the side rails 21-21 in the case of a single bed or between one or the other side rail 21 or 21 and the intermediate rail 23 in the case of a double bed. In either case, each end 27-27 of the bar 26 is journaled for rockability relative to the side rail or intermediate rail. This is accomplished by the provision of flanged sleeves 28-28 which are suitably secured to the side and intermediate rails in axial alignment so as to receive and support the free ends 27-27 of the bar 26. It should here be noted that the same result can be obtained by drilling holes, as shown in Fig. 6, into the side and intermediate rails for the reception of the free ends of the bar 26.

Midway its ends 27-27, the bar 26 has a passage 29 bored transversely therethrough, see Fig. 6. The diameter of such bore 29 is preferably smaller than that of the bar 26 so as to receive a strut member 30 for guiding the same for sliding movement relative to the bar 26. This strut member can also be guided for sliding movement in a central collar or sleeve 31 as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The sleeve 31 may be employed with the arrangement shown in Fig. 6. However, it is best suited for use when the bar 26 is separated into two half lengths 26a and 26b, the inner ends 27a and 27b of which are secured as by threading or welding to the central sleeve 31. In either event it will be noted that the bar 26 or half bars 26a-26b and sleeve 31 will rock relative to their journal mounting on the rails when the strut member 30 is tilted relative to vertical for reasons now to be made apparent.

The upper end 32 of the strut member 30 is pivotally connected as at 33 to the lower surface of the spring portion 15, preferably midway its side edges. This pivotal connection 33 may be made in various ways and for purposes of the present disclosure comprises a pair of trunnion ears 34-34 suitably secured to the underside of the spring portion 15 in spaced relation. That is to say, the trunnion ears 34-34 may be formed as a part of a metal cross brace (not shown) in the understructure of the spring portion 15 or secured to such cross brace in any manner well known in the art. These trunnion ears 34-34 provide journal supports for the ends of a pin 35 which passes through the upper end of the strut member 30.

From the foregoing and as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that upon raising of the spring section 15 the axis of the pin 35 travels in an are on a radius centered at the axis of the hinge 13 by which the spring portion 15 is secured to the main spring portion 11. Consequently, the strut member which passes through the axis of the bar 26 effects a rocking of the latter and/or the sleeve 31 relative to the axis of the bar 26.

The strut member 30 is provided with a plurality of notches 36 at desired spacing along its length and facing toward one of the outer side rails 21-21 of the bedstead. These notches 36 are preferably of sawtooth form having one face 37 extending radially inward relative to the cross section of the strut member and its other face 38 extending diagonally downwardly from the inner extremity of the notch they form, see Fig. 4. These notches 36 are adapted to receive the inner end 39 of a keeper bolt 40 which is arranged for sliding movement within the hollow center of the tubular member 26 or that half 26a thereof exposed to the notched side of the strut member.

' The keeper bolt 40, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, has a pin 41 extending diametrically into it, one end 42 of this pin extending beyond the bolt 40 and into .a slot 43 formed lengthwise in the tubular bar 26 or that half 26a thereof. In this manner the inner end 39 of the bolt which is tooth shaped to conform to one of the sawtooth notches 36 in the strut member, is always maintained in proper position to register accurately with any one of the notches so as to seat therein as the strut member is raised or lowered relative to the axis of the bar 26.

It should here be noted that a compression spring 44 circumscribes a reduced end 45 of the bolt 40 within the tubular bar for the purpose of urging the bolt toward the strut member 30. In this manner, the toothed end 39 of the bolt at all times tends to seat in whichever notch is presented to it. Consequently, when the spring section 15 is raised, i. e., swung upwardly about :the hinge axis '13, the toothed .end 39 of the bolt will seat successively in each of :the notches 36 as they pass the axis of the bar 26. Moreover, since the bar 26 is rocked correspondingly with the relative tilting of the strut member 30 in the manner as hereinbefore explained, and since the bolt 40 is keyed to the bar 26 by the pin 42 and slot 43 arrangement as mentioned above, the .toothed end 39 of the bolt 40 will always be disposed properly to register with the respective notches 36 irrespective of the angle of tilt of the strut member 30 relative to the exis of the bar 26.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the bolt 40 will automatically engage one or another of the notches 36 to support the spring portion 15 in .any position to which it has been raised relative to the main spring portion. In order to lower the spring portion 15 the bolt 40 must be released by hand and this is best accomplished in the following way:

The reduced end 45 of the bolt 40 extends through a passage 46 bored through the side rail 21 in axial alignment with the bar 26. The extremity 47 of the reduced end 45 extends sufficiently beyond the outer face 1 of the side rail 21 as to receive a knob 48, which is secured to the extremity 47, either by threading, welding or in any other manner which is suitable for the purpose.

With the foregoing arrangement, the occupant of the bed or an attendantcan easily adjust the back rest formed by the mattress section 16 and spring section 15. For purposes of convenience, the mattress section 16 can be secured to the spring section 15 by snap fasteners or the like so that a person lying in the bed can raise the back rest by grasping the back edge of the latter and pulling up. The mechanism 25 will thereon operate automatically, i. e., the keeper bolt 40 will seat in the last .notch 36 to pass it, and thus support the back rest at the desired angle. The back rest can be lowered back toward horizontal position by manipulation of the knob 48 to release the keeper bolt from effective position relative to the notched strut member.

While I have described the foregoing structure in specific detai it will be understood how ver, th t various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claim.

I claim:

In a bed including a frame having side rails for supporting a spring and mattress each of which has a portion thereof hingedly connected thereto to provide comparable movable portions forming a back-rest adapted to be raised above and lowered toward horizontal position, the combination therewith of mechanism for supporting said back-rest in raised position comprising: a cross bar having its ends journalled for rocking movement in said side rails, a sleeve block carried by said cross bar for rocking movement therewith, a strut member guided for sliding movement diametrically of the cross bar through said sleeve block and having its upper end pivotally secured to said hinged back-rest, said strut member having a plurality of saw tooth notches formed in one side thereof facing one side rail of said bed, a keeper 'bolt arranged within said bar and having a reduced portion extending through and beyond said one side rail of said bed, said keeper bolt having a tooth formation on its inner end conforming in shape to and receivable by one or another of said saw tooth notches, spring means arranged between said one of said side rails and said keeper bolt for urging the toothed inner end thereof toward said strut member for automatically engaging the notches formed therein as said back-rest is raised, said keeper bolt having pin and slot connection with said cross bar for maintaining the toothed inner end of said keeper bolt in a position to register with the notches formed in said strut member irrespective of rocking movement of said cross bar and sleeve block upon upward movement of said back-rest, and a knob secured to the extended end of said reduced portion to facilitate manual movement of said keeper bolt in a direction away from said strut member against the action of said spring means.

References-Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 137,596 Clinton et a1 Apr. 8, 1873 1,356,613 Estes Oct. 26, 1920 1,549,289 Bradley Aug. 11, 1925 2,282,109 Angeli May 5, 1 942 FOREIGN PATENTS 188,846 Switzerland Jan. 31, 1937 

